USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Richmond > Memoirs of Wayne County and the city of Richmond, Indiana; from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Wayne County, Volume II Pt II > Part 25
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and became the parents of five children: Celia Ann, deceased ; Mrs. Clevenger, who was born Jan. 10, 1853; Ella is the widow of Alford Small and resides at Elwood, Ind .; Edward P. is a resident of Vancouver, Wash., and Morris Levi is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Clevenger have a son, Daniel Oran, who resides in Wash- ington township.
Silas W. Clark, a successful farmer and prominent citizen of Washington township, was born in Madison county, Indiana, Sept. 6, 1845. His father, Thomas G. Clark, was born in Virginia and in that State received his education. He was married to Miss Cynthia Ann Lower and of this union four children were born, three of whom survive, the eldest, Alfred, being deceased. Silas W. is the second in order of birth, Joseph resides in Kansas City, and Frank is a resident of North Baltimore, Ohio. The father came west and located in Washington township, where he taught school a number of years. Later he engaged in agricultural pur- suits in Madison county, Indiana, but afterward returned to Wash- ington township and there his death occurred July 9, 1869, his wife surviving until August, 1908, when she passed away at North Baltimore, Ohio. The father was a Democrat in politics and while living in Madison county served as a member of the State legis- lature and also as county surveyor one term. Silas. W. Clark re- ceived all his educational training in the public schools of Madi- son county and at an early age began working on his father's farm. In 1869 he purchased the old homestead in Washington township, the same consisting of 162 acres, and has since added forty-four acres, where he lives, and has erected the buildings thereon. He devotes his attention to stock-raising and general farming. In the matter of politics Mr. Clark is aligned with the Democratic party, but has never been an aspirant for public office of any nature. On April 21, 1860, he was married to Miss Laura M. Hurst, daughter of William Hurst. The first wife died May 13, 1905, and in August, 1908, Mr. Clark was married to Mrs. Lilly (Franers) Alexander, of Cambridge City.
Monroe M. Bertsch was born in Washington township, Wayne county, Indiana, Oct. 30, 1883. Ilis father, David Bertsch, is one of the prominent citizens of Wayne county and is very in- fluential in shaping affairs, his ripe judgment and keen intellectual powers making him a leader among men. He was born March 23, 1852, in Butler county, Ohio, and was quite young when brought by his father, Reuben Bertsch, to Washington township, in the schools of which he managed to secure a good education, which has been useful to him in his busy and honorable career. He worked on his father's farm until twenty-five years of age and then rented a farm in Washington township, occupying the same five years. He then purchased a farm of his own and conducted it sixteen years, until 1894, when he removed to East German- town and purchased twenty-four acres of land, where he con- tinnes his allegiance to agricultural pursuits. On Jan. 16, 1878, he was married to Miss Mary E. Worl, who became the mistress of his home and whose devotion to his interests throughout their
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wedded life has been incessant. Mr. Bertsch has always been a Democrat. To him and his good wife were born three children, one of whom, Geneva, is deceased; Monroe M. is the first in order of birth, and Ida, the youngest, resides at home with her parents. Monroe M. Bertsch grew to manhood in his native county and at the district schools of Washington township, and later in East Germantown and in the Cambridge City High School, received a substantial education. He then began working in the National Drill Works at Cambridge City, where he was employed about fourteen months, and then rented the old homestead in Wash- ington township, which he occupied until the fall of 1911, en- gaged in general farming. On Oct. 14, 1906, Mr. Bertsch was married to Miss Pearl Arma Rothermel, daughter of George P. and Anna (IIess) Rotherme!, of Milton, and of this union was born a daughter. Irma, Jan. 29, 1909. Politically Mr. Bertsch is a Democrat, and socially he is a member of the Red Men and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Germantown.
Frederick L. Davis, a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Center township, was born in Delaware county, Indiana, Dec. 4, 1867. He is a son of Harmon and Martha (Harris) Davis, natives of Wayne county, where the father was born in July, 1842, in Clay township, and the mother in June, 1845, in New Garden town- ship. In early life the father removed to Delaware county, where he purchased a farm and remained until 1875, when he returned to Wayne county. He then located north of Green's Fork, where he farmed for a time and then moved to Kalkaskia county, Michi- gan, where he followed agricultural pursuits three years. Again returning to Wayne county, he lived for a time at Green's Fork and then farmed four years in Preble county, Ohio. He then came back to Wayne county and rented a farm two years, after which he went to Delaware county and purchased a one-third in- terest in the McGowan hoop factory. Four years later he sold this interest and returned to Green's Fork, where he is now the rural mail carrier on Route No. 21. His wife died Sept. 22, 1890. In politics the senior Davis is a Republican, but has never as- pired to hold public office. Frederick L. Davis had seven brothers and sisters, their names being here set forth: Emma and James are deceased; William B. resides in l'Imhurst, Cal .; and Myrtle, Clara P., Morton, and Stella are deceased. Frederick L. Davis was educated in the schools at Green's Fork, Wayne county. He began his independent career by working for an uncle, Isaac Davis, west of Green's Fork in Clay township, with whom he remained one year, and then conducted a rented farm north of Green's Fork a year, after which he joined his father in the hoop factory in Delaware county, in which he was engaged about a year. Then, after a six months' sojourn in Muncie, Ind., he came to Milton, where he farmed about one year, and then followed the same pur- suit in Jackson township five years, after which he returned to Washington township and conducted Joshua Lamott's farm three years. He then rented the Morgan McCoy farm four years, after which he purchased eighty-two acres of Willian Hartman. upon
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which he erected a dwelling house and there is engaged in general farming. Mr. Davis devotes all his energies to his farm work, in which line he has attained success. Socially he is a member of the Red Men at Cambridge City and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Centerville. In politics he is a Republican in all na- tional affairs, but locally is independent. Never an aspirant for any office, he has served his county as an elector only, feeling that if his ballot has been properly cast according to his best judgment and conscience his duty is well done. In August, 1800, Mr. Davis was united in the bonds of wedlock with Josephine Hunt, who was born in Jackson township. Her father, Edward Hunt, was born in Tennessee and was a farmer in Jackson town- ship. He served as a soldier in the Civil war two and one-half years, and then returned to Wayne county and followed farming until his death. The mother, Margaret ( Bright) Hunt, is also deceased, and to them were born seven children: Martha and Ella, deceased ; William, of East Germantown ; Caldona, the wife of Malon Cathers, of Jackson township; Matilda, the wife of Mon- roe Smith, of Washington township; Josephine, the wife of Mr Davis; and Edward, of Milton, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have three children-Mabel, Ernest, and Vergie.
William S. Miller merits recognition in this compilation by reason of his standing as one of the successful representatives of the agricultural industry in this county, as well as for the reason that he is a citizen of sterling worth and one who enjoys uni form popularity in the community which has been his home dur- ing the major portion of his life. Mr. Miller is a native of Wayne county, born one-half mile west of Boston, in Boston township, April 12, 1868, a son of John W. and Cynthia Ann (Sheffer ) Miller, born in Boston township. The paternal grandfather was Williani Miller and both families were early founded in Wayne county, which was the generous and beneficent cradle of much of the State history. John W. Miller was a farmer by occupation and had a well improved farm in Boston township, where he maintained his home until his death, Feb. 2, 1909. His cherished and devoted wife survives and is living in Boston township. They became the parents of five children: Etta, deceased; Charles C., of Bos- ton township: William S .; Anna, wife of Charles Y. Miller, of Richmond; and Vergie, wife of Isaac Moore, of Boston township. John W. Miller was a man of sterling character and upon the record of his long career as one of the world's noble army of workers there rests no blemish. His life was one of consecutive industry and he gained success through his own well-directed efforts. He was well known throughout Wayne county and long held prestige in this section. He was a Democrat in his political proclivities and was many years a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which his wife also is a devoted member. Wil- liam S. Miller secured his early educational training in the district schools of Boston township and from his boyhood days contrib,- uted his quota to the work of the home farm, increasing his services as his ability and physical powers justified. Upon leav-
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ing the parental home, at the age of twenty-three years, he rented a farm in Center township, east of Centerville, where he remained about four years. He then farmed the home place four years, after which he removed to Brownsville township, Union county, where he purchased a farm and resided four years. Ile then sold that place and, in March, 1905, purchased the place where he resides and which is maintained under a high state of cultivation and equipped with excellent improvements, including a substantial residence and good barns, all of which were built or remodeled by him. In politics he is a Democrat and supports the measures and candidates approved by that organization. He is one of the popular citizens of his township, where his circle of friends is limited only by that of his acquaintances. Mr. Miller has been twice married. On Feb. 14, 1891, he wedded Miss Edna Dru- ley, born and reared in this county, a daughter of John L. Druley. Mrs. Miller was summoned to the life eternal March 17, 1894. On Sept. 6, 1900, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Parks, daughter of Isaac and Sarah ( Druley ) Parks, of Boston town- ship, and of this union have been born two children -- Elmer P., born in Union county, Sept. 12, 1901, and John W., born in Boston town- ship, Nov. 10, 1906 -- both of whom reside at the parental home, which is a center of gracious hospitality and a favored resort. of the large circle of friends whom Mr. and Mrs. Miller have gathered to them.
Allen Family .- Among the substantial citizens of Wayne coun- ty are to be numbered the members of the Allen family, of Hlagers- town, the first American ancestor of whom came from Ireland. The son of this early immigrant was Hugh Allen, Sr., who is buried in the Baptist cemetery at Salem in an unmarked grave. The next in line of descent, flugh Allen, Jr., and his wife, Polly, were pioneer residents of Wayne county, coming here about the year 1822. Their offspring were Elizabeth, Jacob, John, Sarah, Mason, Jeremiah, Mary Ann, Caroline, Malinda, and Thomas L., all of whom are deceased with the exception of Thomas L., who resided in Indiana- polis. Hugh Allen, Jr., lived for a time in Kentucky, from whence he moved to Montgomery county, Ohio, and came from there to Indiana, settling near Ilagerstown on what is known as the "Old Allen Homestead." Jacob Allen, eldest son of Ilugh, Jr., and Polly Allen, came to Wayne county with his parents and was educated in Jefferson township. Ile was a farmer by occupation, and to him and his wife, Martha, were born four children-Dr. John B., Lewis C., Caroline, and Thomas B -all of whom are deceased but Thomas B. (of whom see sketch for further data concerning the Allen fam- ily). Lewis C. Allen, second son of Jacob and Martha Allen, was born Sept. 19, 1847. He lived a life full of kindness to his neighbors and friends. Ile practiced charity toward all who were needy, on the theory that he had better bestow upon ninety-nine that were unworthy than to refuse charity to one that was really in need. He was a devout member of the Primitive Baptist church, and at his home church and neighboring churches was a regular attendant. On Feb. 19, 1874, he was married to Sarah E. Ice, born June 13, 1847,
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a daughter and youngest child of Jesse and Sarah (Hickman) Ice, and the place of her nativity was the Ice homestead in Henry conn- ty, Indiana. Soon after their marriage Lewis C. Allen and wife moved to the farm on which they lived during their married life, located one and one-half miles southeast of Hagerstown, Ind. Their married life was a happy one and of their union were born six chil- dren, one of whom died in infancy, the survivors being Jacob V., married to Mary Shaffer; Patricia, married to Karl Ghoring ; Joshua 11., a practicing attorney in Hagerstown; and Robert and Caroline, the last three named of whom reside on the home farm with the widow, the husband and father having died April 30, 1910. Jesse Ice, father of Mrs. Allen, was a colonel in the Virginia militia, and during the campaign when Anthony Wayne defeated the indians at Fort Wayne he came through Ohio and Indiana with a regiment, passing north in Indiana as far as Delaware county, where news came to him that Wayne was victorious, and he returned to Virginia. It was on this trip that he became impressed with the possibilities of the Western country and its future. He was not satisfied in the East from that time, but his wife would not consent to move. One day, several years after his return to Virginia, he was plowing on a sloping hillside, when the lower horse fell, pulling the other down with him, and they rolled down the hill, one over the other, until they lodged in a tree, where Colonel Ice found them. Ile unhitched them and returned to the house, where he served notice on his wife to get ready-that he was coming to Indiana. Jesse Ice was a son of Andrew Ice, who was a soldier in the Revolution, participating in General McIntosh's campaigns in the years 1777-78-79. Andrew Ice lived to be ninety-eight years old and was buried on the farm of Frederick lee, near Ilillsboro, in Henry county, Indiana, but his remains were later removed to the cemetery at Mount Summit Sarah ( flickman) Ice, wife of Jesse Ice, was a descendant of Ezekiel Hickman, of Virginia, a soldier who died of small-pox during the Revolution and the ancestor of the lickmans in Henry and Dela. ware counties, Indiana. Attorney Joshua H. Allen, born Jan. 31, 1882, a son of Lewis C. and Sarah E. (Ice) Allen, was educated in the Hagerstown High School and the University of Indiana, in which last named institution he took a course in law and graduated with the class of 1905. On Jan. 1, 1906, he began the practice of his profession at Hagerstown, in which he has since been success . fully engaged. He is prominently identified with the Knights of Pythias, being a member of lodge No. 198, at Hagerstown, and he gives unswerving support to the men and measures of the Demo- cratie party.
William Irvin White, a highly respected farmer citizen of Wayne township, was born on a farm adjoining the one where he resides, Nov. 13, 1838, son of Joseph and Alice (Clawson ) White. The father was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, April 3, 1800, and the mother in North Carolina. May 29, 1799. The paternal grandfather was James White, who died in Butler county, Ohio, where the family had removed in the fall of 1800, and Joseph White came to Wayne county with his mother in 1810, when the
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Territory was almost an unbroken wilderness and inhabited by Indians. Owing to these conditions the family decided to return to Butler county, Ohio, but two years later they again came to Wayne county, taking up their residence near Middleborough, where Joseph White grew to manhood. There were seven children in the family-four sons and three daughters-James, John, Nathan, Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, and Sarah, all of whom are deceased. In 1836 Joseph White purchased a farm of 160 acres in Wayne town- ship, on the New Paris pike, four miles northeast of Richmond, and there he resided the remainder of his life, adding to his possessions until he owned about 300 acres of land at the time of his death. He was married in 1821 to Miss Alice Clawson, whose parents were pioneer residents of Wayne county. These parents -- Mahlon and Rebecca (Clark) Clawson- - came from North Carolina to Indiana in an early day and settled near Chester, in Wayne county, where they resided the remainder of their lives. They became the parents of seven children-Mary, Sarah, Alice, William, Amos, Mahlon, and Abner-all of whom are deceased. Joseph White died Dec. 26, 1868, and was survived by his widow until Aug. 5, 1872, when she, too, passed away at the farm home in Wayne township. They were the parents of the following children: Josiah, who married Eliza Coburn and after her death was wedded, in 1852, to Hannah E. Frame; James, who married Anna T. Stedom; Lydia, who married Reese Mendenhall; David, who married Nancy Strawbridge and after her death was wedded to Martha E. Strawbridge; Anna E., who married Hugh G. Nickle; John, who married Mary J. Gladden ; William I. is the next in order of birth ; and Joseph C. married Han- nah b). Dilks. Of these children but two survive-William 1. and Joseph C .- and the latter resides on the old White homestead in Wayne township, the place adjoining that of his brother, William I. William I. White received his education in the public schools of Wayne township and has always followed agricultural pursuits. Upon reaching manhood he began his independent career on the farm where he now resides, and which was then but partially cleared and almost wholly unimproved. He finished clearing the land, erected the buildings thereon, and developed the place into one of the fine farm properties of Wayne township, the tract consisting of 112 acres. On Dec. 25, 1866, he was married to Miss Sarah H. Strawbridge, born in Richmond, May 17, 1843, daughter of Ben- jamin and Hannah (Gladden ) Strawbridge, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Maryland. They were married in Wayne county and resided here until 1848, when they removed to Illinois, where the father died, and the mother then removed to Indianapolis, where she spent the residue of her life. They were the parents of five children : Mary J. is the widow of D. B. Cleary and resides at New Paris, Ohio; Martha E. is the widow of David White (an older brother of William I.) and resides at New Paris, Ohio; Sarah H. is the wife of Mr. White; Nancy E. is deceased, as is also William C., the only son in the family. Mr. White is a Republican in politics and he and his wife are members of the Friends' church. He is regarded as one of the sound and substan-
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tial men of this locality. Four children were the issue of the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. White: Ora Mabel has taught in the Colum- bian School on the Middleborough Pike for the past thirteen years and resides at the parental home; Harry B. resides at home and superintends the farm; J. Edwin is a railroad engineer and resides in Richmond ; and Maurice W. is a clerk in the Pennsylvania rail- road office at Richmond.
Francis W. Robinson .- A publication of this nature exer- cises its supreme function when it enters tribute to the memory of worthy citizens who have been called from the scene of life's endeavors and have left records on which rest no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. Such a one was Mr. Robinson, one of the representative manufacturers of the city of Richmond for more than half a century and who ever commanded unequivocal es- teem as a man and as a loyal and public spirited citizen. He was born in Baltimore, Md., Dec. 9, 1810, and his death occurred at his home, 122 North Fifteenth street, in the city of Richmond, Nov. 23, 1897. He was a descendant of Sir William Robinson, who came to this country with William Penn. His father-Jehu Robinson- and his mother-Mary Ann Willis-belonged to fam- ilies early founded in America. He accompanied his parents from Baltimore to Philadelphia when two years of age, and was reared to maturity in the last named city, where he early became familiar with all departments of the carpenter trade, and was af- forded the advantages of the common schools of the period. Ilis mother died when he was twelve years old; and in 1829 hie re- moved with his sister and an uncle, John Wills, to Darke county, Ohio, later coming to Richmond, where he took up a permanent residence. In 1842 he organized the Robinson Machine Works and bent his energies and powers to the development of the in- dustry and to making his success one of the cumulative order. How well he realized his ambition is shown in the magnitude of the business to which he devoted his efforts and intelligent direction. He was always progressive in his ideas, so that he kept in touch with the advances made in and the requirements of the great basic art of agriculture, and lived to the last fully appreciative of the ever increasing benefits and privileges which it was his to enjoy and to whose procurement he contributed his due quota as a citizen and business man. His life was character- ized by inviolable integrity and righteousness and offers both les- son and incentive to those who observe its perspective, now that he has passed to "that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns." The firm of Robinson & Company is one of the prominent corporations and manufactories of the city of Rich- mond, and having been founded in the days of the city's infancy it has been closely connected through its owners with the social and business life of the community. As before stated, it was founded in 1842, by Francis W. Robinson. Succeeding his father, the late Henry E. Robinson was president of the company until his death, and at the present time S. E. Swayne, a son-in-law of Francis W. Robinson, is president; William Platte Robinson is
RATICIEW ROBIT OF
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secretary, and Henry Rayburn Robinson is vice-president and superintendent. The last two named are sons of the late Henry E. Robinson. These officers, with the daughters of the founder, form a family corporation which owns and operates the modern plant, which has grown from the small beginning, made in 1842, at which time a horse provided the power for the works. The harvesting and saving of the world's crops is a big theme in in- dustrial affairs and one which has taxed inventive genius as much, if not more, than any problem of transportation or distribution. Richmond men and Richmond machinery have played an impor- tant part in the evolution and in the manufacture of modern threshing machinery, and the name of "Richmond" has been car- ried literally to the ends of the earth on the grain-saving ma- chinery made in that city. When Francis W. Robinson began the manufacture of grain separators, in 1842, they were known as "chaff pilers" and "traveling threshing machines" and did not separate the grain from the chaff. He promptly invented some valuable improvements in this regard, purchased the establishment of Ed- ward Borton & Son, and in 1860 added portable farm engines and "Pitt's" separators to his line. In 1858 his son-in-law, the late Jonas W. Yeo, became associated with him, and later, in 1872, the works were incorporated as the Robinson Machine Works. When the affairs of this corporation were rounded up, in 1877, the late Francis W. and Henry E. Robinson, father and son, ac- quired full control of the business, under the firm name of Robin- son & Co., and it was incorporated under the same name in 1880. The main plant now occupies the entire square from Third street to Second street, on Main, and north to A street, and about an equal area on the east side of Third street. The buildings con- sist of a modern office, a large steam and electric plant, a com- modious foundry, machine and carpenter shops, fire-proof pattern house, test house, and an erecting shop which alone is as capacious as the entire plant was in 1884. Branch houses are maintained at Indianapolis, Columbus, St. Louis, St. Joseph (Mo.), Stutt- gart (Ark.), and at Jennings (La.), and a growing export busi- ness is handled through New York offices. The machinery man- ufactured consists of traction and portable engines, saw mills, threshing machines and attachments, and steam hay balers. This machinery threshes rice in Louisiana, Texas, and the Dutch East Indies, and separates wheat, oats, and small grain from the straw and bales the straw from Colorado to the eastern point of Long Island, in the United States, and also in Africa, Chili, and the Argentine. The engines are known in the same territory, wher- ever power is needed for threshing, plowing, railroad construc- tion, grading and saw-milling. Francis W. Robinson, up to the date of his last illness, looked after many of the details of the business which he founded and carried on for more than half a century. He was nearly eighty-seven years of age and in the full possession of his faculties. He was noted in boyhood for his bravery, self-possession, and readiness of resource in time of dan- ger, and he loved to excel in the boyhood sports and in the ex-
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